The Thriving Christian Artist

Discover Why Timing Matters in Every Artist's Journey: An Interview with Debbie Gallerani

• Matt Tommey: Artist, Best-Selling Author, Speaker, Entrepreneur and Artist Mentor

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In this heartfelt episode of The Thriving Christian Artist Podcast, I sit down with Tucson-based artist Debbie Gallerani, whose work spans whimsical sculpture, mixed media, and a rich background as a professional cartoonist. From her charming bed and breakfast, La Casa Del Artista, to art shows across the country, Debbie’s life is a colorful blend of creativity, hospitality, and ministry.

Debbie opens up about her early dreams of becoming a syndicated cartoonist, the setbacks and detours she faced along the way, and how God’s faithfulness has carried her through seasons of challenge and change. We talk about the power of perseverance, the joy of creating art that brings delight, and the importance of sharing your faith through your creative life.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

  • How Debbie’s early passion for cartooning shaped her unique style
  • Finding joy in whimsical, hope-filled artwork
  • Building creative community through hospitality and art
  • Trusting God’s timing through life’s setbacks
  • Ways to naturally share your faith with those who encounter your art

🌟 Favorite Quotes from This Episode:

“I’ve always been an artist, but it’s taken a lifetime of twists and turns to get to where I am now—and I wouldn’t trade the journey.” — Debbie Gallerani
“When you open your home and your heart to people, creativity flows in both directions.” — Matt Tommey
“God made us to create. Every time we use our gifts, we reflect His heart to the world.” — Debbie Gallerani

🌐 Connect with Debbie Gallerani: https://www.debbiegalleraniart.com/

✅ Stay Connected & Grow as a Thriving Christian Artist:

Find out more about The Created to Thrive Foundations Course 

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Speaker 1:

All of the world, artists are awakening. Painters and potters, writers and weavers, poets and dancers not chasing followers or fame, but sons and daughters called for such a time as this, transformed from the inside out, creating with purpose, releasing the glory of God and living in the power of the kingdom. Right now, this is the Thriving Christian Artist. Well, hey, friends, it's Matt. Tommy, super glad that you are back with me on the podcast today. You know, I think all of us artists can really, you know, remember times where we had setbacks and things that didn't go as normal in our life, and my guest today, debbie Gallerani, has had one of those lives as well. Things have not gone perfectly, debbie, right, so we get to talk about the good things of God and how he's brought you through on this journey and in your art. So, debbie, welcome. So glad you're here today.

Speaker 2:

Thank you so much, matt, it's a pleasure.

Speaker 1:

Absolutely so. For those folks that are just kind of getting to know you, why don't you let us know kind of where you are in the world, what you do now creatively, and then we'll jump into a little bit of your history and all that all right.

Speaker 2:

well, I live in tucson, arizona and um, being originally from palm springs. I love the heat, one of those crazy people that loves palm trees and pools and cactus, and anyway, um, yeah. So I'm back out in the desert and I am doing more fine art. I do a sculpture, I do these jackrabbits, and they're really cute. I also do mixed media and they have a lot of whimsical looks to them. I am a professional cartoonist, so that's where that all comes in, and I also run a bed and breakfast part-time in my house.

Speaker 1:

In your spare time. I'm going to say right, in my spare time.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, exactly, I'm twirling the plates, and so that's been fun too. I call my place La Casa de la Tista, which is the artist's house, and so I get a lot of really interesting guests. I get musicians and poets and writers and different artists, and it's really fabulous. I love it.

Speaker 1:

That's so cool. I remember we were in Santa Fe recently with uh, did a retreat with one of our our programs, our mastery program, and uh, one of the galleries I follow. There every Friday night they have different artists and musicians and live music and poetry readings and all this kind of stuff and I'm like that sounds so fun. It sounds like the bed and breakfast that you're running almost.

Speaker 2:

It is, it is. I mean, there are obviously other people doing other things, but I do tend to get a lot of artists. They're attracted to just the whole vibe. I got going here. There's art everywhere, all over the house. And so it's been a real blessing because you know we kind of feed off each other as well, encourage each other and and a lot of times I share you know the Lord with them and absolutely every time I share you with them. I'm like you need to go to Matt Tommy's website.

Speaker 1:

I love it. I love it. Well, you know, debbie, one of the things I've realized over the years in my life, and you've probably heard this as well people kind of see you in this season of life. You know that you're in, right, so you've got a bed and breakfast and you're doing your art and you're doing all this stuff and everybody's like I wish I had a life like that.

Speaker 1:

But people don't realize, like the journey right, that it took for you to get to where you are and that it wasn't all perfect and everything. So kind of roll the tape back for us when it wasn't all perfect and everything. So kind of roll the tape back for us. Where did where did your art sort of emerge in your life and and uh, and what's that look like for you over the years?

Speaker 2:

well, I always was an artist and um, and I drew cartoons. I wanted to have a comic strip, syndicated comic strip. That was my original goal. And so from very little you know the old my mom would get the paper from the butcher, put it out on the floor. I'd be drawing cartoons and I, uh, just really that was my goal, that was my love of my life. And also it's kind of funny because the comic book, the Archies I don't know if you remember the Archies back in the fifties, but I love them. So Betty and Veronica, you know, and I think some of my characters kind of came from that as well. Anyway, and then through high school, I just, you know, kept doing my art and I got better at illustrating.

Speaker 2:

So, I started in illustration as well. Then I thought, well, you know, I'm going to get into commercial art, which of course is called graphic design now and um. So then I kind of moved into that, which became um, very, uh, advantageous having the background of cartooning and illustrating, going into you know commercial art field because I was able to customize people's designs and logos, et cetera.

Speaker 2:

But the hard part, oh my goodness yeah. So in high school I don't know why, but I wasn't connecting with my counselors and my parents weren't connecting with me, but somehow I didn't get into any kind of college.

Speaker 1:

Wow.

Speaker 2:

And my art teacher was like, oh, you can get into Pasadena Art Center, no problem, you're a shoo-in. And I was like, yay, great, I didn't know what to do. I mean, I was just this dumb kid, you know, going to school and you know I'm the best in the class. I guess that's all I need to do. And lo and behold, the day they gave out scholarships. I didn't get one.

Speaker 2:

And I was just devastated. I was like, okay, what did I miss here? So I got my own portfolio together and I drove up to Pasadena and made an appointment with the administration and the man who interviewed me oh my word, he was so mean. I mean, he was. He just looked at me and he looked at my work. He's like like, like wow, you need like two years of junior college for you to get in here and I was just devastated.

Speaker 1:

So that kind of stuff hurts, no matter who's saying it right. I mean, that was not a good launching pad yeah, yeah career.

Speaker 2:

And so I was like, okay, and I didn't do art for a while. So I thought, well, maybe I'm not supposed to do art.

Speaker 1:

But it's in my soul. Did you know anybody else that was an artist at that time? Like making a living from their creativity, or was that totally foreign? I mean just a dream of yours?

Speaker 2:

It was just a dream.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, you know, not really, I really didn't. Back then it was a little harder, you know, we couldn't just go online and look up an artist. Yeah, sure, you had to do everything very organically and so, yeah, I didn't know anyone, so I was just on my own going for it. So a couple of years later I went into. I figured, well, I'm just going to go out of state, because in California that's where I lived was very expensive to go to school and I thought, well, I'm going to just try something different. So I applied at this academy in York, pennsylvania. I got in, moved there, knew not a soul, all the way across the country too.

Speaker 2:

Oh my God, all the way across the country got to experience snow, which I didn't like at all, but um, it was. It was so much fun, it was just such a blessing that that school but here's another door that closed after one year in that school, um, they closed down because, of funding or whatever.

Speaker 2:

So here I am going, you know what you know. So I tried to stay in the place where I was staying and the landlord said, no, you can stay here, and anyway I ended up going back out to california. And then, um, shortly after I had met my husband my first husband in art school, and got married, had a little girl, and from there it was like I can't go back to school because I have family and I would do all kinds of art just to keep doing it, because I couldn't get a job, I didn't have a certificate right so I thought you know what I'm working at this restaurant.

Speaker 2:

Maybe they need a new menu or maybe they need, um, some advertising then. So that's what I would do for years. I would have like a regular job and then I would do all kinds of art graphics for them and to keep the, the river, flowing right the river flowing exactly and I don't know if you remember, but do you remember press type?

Speaker 1:

because we didn't have.

Speaker 2:

So press type was where we didn't have the computer so we had to hand either hand letter things or press type was where these sheets of letters and we placed it on whatever you were working on and then you press the type on. So that's what we use for like headlines and stuff. So this is we're talking.

Speaker 2:

yeah, way back in the day back in the day, back in the day you know where'd that come from, Anyway, um, so yeah, that's what I did for years and years and years. And then finally I got a job at Palm Springs life magazine and it was $5 an hour. I was excited. I was like I don't care, I need to get in here, I'm we'll sweep the floors, I don't care. And um, I started off as a production artist and then went to designing in one month and that was just. I was so excited and I figured at that point, matt, I figured in my life, since I didn't get my certificate, I didn't get to finish college, I didn't get to do the whole school thing. My experience with whatever I did in art, for whomever I worked for, I was a sponge.

Speaker 1:

I thought this is my school. This is now my education.

Speaker 2:

And so I was a little sponge and everything I did. I was a little sponge and everything I did I was just like, okay, remember this, learn this, ask questions. So I never take for granted all the crazy stuff I did because, well, I learned a lot. I mean, I worked for silk screening companies and I hand painted political signs for people on big pieces of wood.

Speaker 1:

Anything you could get color on right.

Speaker 2:

Anything I could get my hands on and I mean obviously, if it was weird I wouldn't do it.

Speaker 1:

but yeah, yeah, sure. Now, when did you come to the Lord, Debbie, and when did you ever begin to sense like this creative gift is from him? Or was this kind of a lot of people, like I did, a lot of people kind of live in these silos of my art life over here, spiritual life over here? So what was that, that part of your journey, like?

Speaker 2:

well, I came to the Lord when I was 11. I went to a church camp and um accepted the board there. It was amazing. It was just a really beautiful experience and I was deeply involved in my church and everything. I was up until about maybe 14, 15 in high school. Now, of course, the Lord never leaves you. He was always with me and I always felt his presence in the Holy Spirit. But I went off and did dumb things for a while, but I always always felt that God was part of my art world. I never let that go. I never felt like, oh, I'm so cool, I'm an artist. I was just like no, I'm so grateful.

Speaker 2:

You know, this is God's gift. This is God doing this. This is not me. I never wanted to take you know, because people get real excited. They're like, oh, you're Debbie. And oh, you know, because people get real excited. They're like, oh, you're Debbie, and you know you did this. I'm like thank you, but I mean it's really the Lord. He's just gifted me and I feel so blessed because of that.

Speaker 2:

So I've always felt that, um, even though it was kind of a little growing up and doing crazy things, but you know, God was always with me.

Speaker 1:

We all have those seasons, right. We go off the rail and come back. Yeah, he's always there.

Speaker 2:

Oh, yeah, drawing us back.

Speaker 1:

You know I've talked to so many people, debbie, who you know, we we had these dreams of being an artist as a kid, even as a young person, maybe in college. Life happens right Get married, have a baby, got jobs. You're still doing a little bit of creativity on the side. But when at your life did you start to realize if I don't do more creativity like I'm gonna, I'm gonna die over here. I gotta, I gotta really begin to do more of that, because I think all of us come to that place, uh, in our life, maybe in middle age or as we, as we get older, that well, I've lived all these years without this. I can't do that anymore. I've got. I've got to really give this the attention that it deserves.

Speaker 2:

I think once I moved to Tucson that's when it really happened. Um, I'm single and started my life over and I thought you know, deb, why are you wishy-washy with this?

Speaker 2:

You need to really need to really focus. This is a gift that god gave you and you need to focus and do something with it, not just la, la, la, whatever. Um, now, the graphic design part when I was doing that over the years was very good. Um, I had my own company for a while, worked for an advertising agency as well as Palm Springs Light Magazine, and I started to get carpal tunnel and terrible pain in my back when I was because I'd be hours and hours and hours on the computer.

Speaker 2:

So my switch came when I visited my dad and I hadn't seen him in a very long time. But he was a painter and he painted with in oils and they were just gorgeous and I was like, wow, all righty. So he inspired me and I started painting and I hated everything I did no perfectionism there, right.

Speaker 1:

No perfection, none at all well.

Speaker 2:

All I saw was cartoons. I'm like, oh, what is this, you know? And finally, with your help and the Lord's help, it's like, deb, you're a cartoonist, it's okay. So, if you need that crazy fun thing to show and shine through your work, then let it be. Don't try to be somebody else, so um just to pause on that.

Speaker 1:

Were you were you, were you thinking that, oh, cartooning is not real art? Like this is the real art and this is just fun, like what?

Speaker 2:

was going through your mind. Yeah, I guess I was. Isn't that funny? I think also, society in a way thinks that they kind of do. I mean there are some artists that do have pieces that are, you know, cartoonish or whatever, I mean you know, famous of course, but I think I don't know. It was just so different.

Speaker 2:

I think I was just looking at so much different kinds of fine art that it just it stumbled me for a bit so yeah I did find some common ground, though, as I looked at folk art, because folk art was just fun and colorful, and so my combination with a little bit of that folk art and then my cartooning and the illustration, it just, it just made its own.

Speaker 1:

I made my own pudding, yeah yeah, absolutely well, I think that's one of the beautiful things about being an artist when you finally start accepting, hey, this uniqueness that I think is so weird and it doesn't fit. This is actually god's secret sauce in my creative life, right? So?

Speaker 2:

it really is, and I think a lot of artists feel that way. You know, having talked to different artists, um, through my bed and breakfast, you know people tend to artists especially like, oh, you know, I'm not good enough, or you know, what do you think I don't know? And I'm like, hey, this is, this is great. You know, I mean, just keep going, keep working at it. I think it's beautiful. And, um, also, I was, um an art instruction art instructor for high school for a year, and I want to tell you that that was a wonderful job because it was for a charter school. So half the students were going to like theater and sports and they needed more time to do that, and then part of the time they'd be on campus and then part-time was online.

Speaker 2:

This is when online classes were starting okay the other half were students that were kicked out of public school, so I had a real interesting group yeah, sure now the kids that were little troublemakers.

Speaker 2:

I love them. I love them so much. They were just pleading for attention in their own silly way. You know, they didn't know so through art, that was our communication and they'd get real upset or they'd just flip out and I go okay, you know, like it's okay, calm down, and I'd take each one and I just start talking to them about every.

Speaker 2:

Every artist in the whole world started off with what you have in front of you, which is a blank canvas. Michelangelo and Da Vinci, they didn't start off with some fancy thing. They all started with a blank canvas. So we start at the beginning, we move slowly. There's going to be layers, it's going to take time, but you know what. You can do. This, this is easy. So I break it down and make it real simple for them. And again, I get this well, I'm not good enough or I can't do that, and I'm like, sure you can, sure you can. It's okay, just take the time we can do this.

Speaker 2:

And at the end, oh, I had one girl. She was great. She would do little cartoons on the side, like a little notepad, right. So one day she shows that they were supposed to bring in their finished piece and we put it up on the top board and they critique it. So she was going well, I didn't mind in the car this morning, like we're supposed to be impressed with that right, right, right, and I was like I gave her an f because it was bad. She was so astounded she was like how dare you, you know. So I pulled her aside after the class and I said you know, I gave you an f. She says yeah. She says yeah because you didn't put any effort into it, honey he says but you know what?

Speaker 2:

you are so good, I've seen your work and I know you can do this. You don't need to just randomly do this in the car. I mean, you're great, you're an excellent artist, right, and so I really, really would love to see something fabulous back of you for the next assignment. From then on. She's a rock star wow yeah.

Speaker 1:

I was just going to say, as you're saying all this to what you're saying to the kids, I'm just hearing the Lord say yep, that's what I did, that's what I said to Debbie early on, that's how I led you. It's like that's how the Lord say yep, that's what I did, that's what I said to Debbie early on, that's how I led you. It's like it's like that's how the Lord led you. Right, these, these little invitations. I know this doesn't make sense right now. I know you feel inadequate. I know you feel unprepared for this. I know this isn't working out exactly the way you thought it was going to work out, but trust me, right, just keep participating in the process. I mean, do you see that I guess the same kind of thing in your life?

Speaker 2:

Absolutely, I mean that was a total God thing, because I had never been a teacher before and I don't have teaching credentials, so I had to have another teacher in the room with me and so I just got up in front of the class and just start talking and everything just was natural. It was like God really gifted me with that and, yes, it was almost like again like a lesson for me too. It was like God was speaking through me to the kids, but he was also filling me so much. It was really a beautiful thing, and I actually wouldn't mind doing that again, whether it be just private lessons or something yeah, yeah, so you mentioned I guess nowadays you've got the bed and breakfast.

Speaker 1:

What does your art life look like right now? You're selling your work. Are you what? What does all that look like? Are you teaching at all?

Speaker 2:

and so, um, I started your. Well, actually, I first saw you, I think it was through Facebook. It was like a free class for a couple of days and I did that. I thought, oh, this was, it was wonderful, I just fell in love with it. But it wasn't time for me, I wasn't ready to really dive deep into that. So I think another year went by and you did the bootcamp.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, the cash flow bootcamp and that one, that one I really connected with because I'm like I need to make some money doing this. So when I saw that I went through I was like, oh my goodness, there was one part where you said something about propel.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

Like you know, propelling.

Speaker 1:

That's the marketing system. We teach yeah, sure, yeah.

Speaker 2:

And I drove. I got in my car that day and I was driving to the store and I looked up in the sky and there was this cloud in the shape of an airplane. Wow, it's amazing, but anyway, so that got me started. That's when I joined the mentoring group, and it's just, matt. It's just made such a difference in how I think about my art and how I do it. So, and what difference the difference is is that I lean into the Lord more, because all my life I was what?

Speaker 1:

did it look like before and it goes. Nobody ever says I was never leaning into the Lord, I was just a selfish striver, like I think a lot of people think that they were. But maybe what is different now than what you were doing, like, draw that distinction for people so they can maybe understand.

Speaker 2:

I think then I knew that God had gifted me, but I think, because it just came so easily that what you know, just my talent and everything, that I didn't really think much about it like, oh god, gift me. Okay, here we go where, when I had to just start over with everything and I wanted to move further with my art. You know, honestly, here it is, it's fine art, going from graphic design to fine art.

Speaker 2:

That really was such a shift I mean because graphic design as you know, you were a graphic designer people tell you what to do and you go okay and you make it look all beautiful. Where fine art? You're like giving out your soul and your heart and your spirit and and then, if someone doesn't like it, you're like you just crushed me right now. So that was the difference. I was trying to, uh, portray what I was thinking. And it was just. It was just such a different element to be in. I just struggled with it.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and that's when I leaned into the Lord. I was like, okay, what do you want me to do? Because you know, I was going through the I hate my art thing. And then I was going through, it looks, everything looks like a cartoon, or I'm not good enough, or how do I get in the gallery? I mean, there were just so many questions, so many, so much to learn, yeah. And so I would just every morning I would just say thank you, lord, for just blessing me with everything you've given me. You know my heart. Please, just what do you want me to do? And that's when, you know know, I found your classes and I started moving into that. So, basically, what has happened since then? It's very exciting. Um, I've been in several shows since then. One of them I had guests who stayed here and they have an art gallery in Scottsdale.

Speaker 2:

Oh wow, Big art market, yes, and so they were like your stuff is really good. And so they're like would you like to be in one of our shows? And I'm like yes, so that was real exciting and it's just like things are just, things just happen.

Speaker 1:

You know things people see them.

Speaker 2:

I go to Borrego springs a lot. It's a beautiful place in california. It's in the anza brego uh state park and it's a little tiny town but it's very art filled. And I met a lady there. I purposely sought her out because I've loved her store. It was mid-century modern. I'm like I want to be in her store. So I sought her out and I drew specifically these animals in a mid-century modern style, these desert animals, and I presented them to her and she's like, oh, these are great. So then she invited me to a Christmas show and then she said would you like to have your work in my shop full time? I said yes.

Speaker 2:

And she invited me to have a solo show. Then, a year later, she invited me to have a solo show. Then, a year later, she invited me to be in another solo show. And now I'm in another show. It's a? Um with two other artists at this beautiful uh hotel. It's mid-century modern hotel there, but anyway, um, it's like god has steered me to the right people for the you know, to communicate with them, and um and that's and I always kind of keep my eyes open and my feelers open.

Speaker 2:

It's like, yeah, that's that. That place looks like that. My art would fit in there I mean why would I go to a gallery that does landscapes?

Speaker 1:

I don't do landscapes, so you have to find where your niche is.

Speaker 2:

So yeah, I just love that.

Speaker 1:

I was just going to say. I think that's one of the things I love most about watching people in the mentoring program. You know, kind of get this realization that I got. I mean, that was my story as well, trying to do my art all those years by myself and then beginning to understand how the kingdom of God works and that we've already been given everything we need, that all the resources and relationships and opportunities are already out there for us, that we've just got to, like you're saying, keep our eyes open, ears to the Lord. You know expectation in our heart, all of that, and as we walk, he begins to intersect our path and I think when you, it's just so powerful.

Speaker 1:

That's why I never get tired of doing what I do right, because I just love seeing when you bring the practical knowledge of what people need. You know, because there's a lot of stuff right, you got to know how to run an art business and develop voice, all that. But when you combine it with a kingdom, it's like there is this quote unquote magical sort of combustion that happens where all of a sudden it may seem like you've been struggling for years and all of a sudden, like you said, things just kind of flow. Things just like opportunities, start coming out of nowhere and you're like, did God just get in a good mood? And you're like, no, that's how the kingdom works. Like you begin to get into the flow of what God's had for you the whole time.

Speaker 2:

I mean, that's just so good. It's true, it's true no-transcript phone and she's like oh, we have a space here, would you like? And it was like the first building right in front. She says we have a space here, would you like to to be there?

Speaker 1:

yes, thank you very much I joined the co-op.

Speaker 2:

I've worked there for two years, but during that time the people I met they were discussing opening up a new gallery in Tubac. Tubac is this great little art colony in southern Arizona and you know I want to be on that. I mean, it was so weird. I was just like, oh, okay, I want to do that. Like I didn't even think about it really. It was just like, yes, yes, I want to do this. So I invested some money in it, but drive down the two back. Um, I did their logo, I did all you know their advertising etc. But, um, eventually I left. It was just a lot to run the bed and breakfast and do my art and run the gallery, but the experience, you know, that's the thing it's like how often does someone say would you like to be co-owner of the art gallery?

Speaker 2:

It's like, when does this happen? So I'm like, yes, I want to do that. So the experience being on the other side selling art, it was really wonderful.

Speaker 1:

How are you deciding now? I guess, because you've had such a varied past and lots and lots of different experiences, I guess what are the? What are the, the signposts, if you will, the guardrails in your life right now that are that you're using, maybe the filter that you're using to say yes to these things, no to these things right now? Like, how are you deciding? Because you're a talented person, right, you're a go-getter, obviously you could do anything you wanted to do, right. So what? How is the Lord leading you to choose the right things for this season in your life? And even if that means, like you just said, with the art gallery, like that's a no for right now, that season is over. How is that for you right now?

Speaker 2:

That's a very interesting question. The bed and breakfast is actually not doing that well, Probably economy. Well, of course, in the summer here in Arizona nobody wants to come here.

Speaker 1:

I plead and beg I know it's not that bad really and they're like yeah right, 112 degrees, but it's a dry heat right.

Speaker 2:

You know it's a dry heat, but this year it's been actually really humid but, anyway.

Speaker 2:

So I had. This is interesting because one of my bathrooms in on the guest side of my house, um, uh, the plumbing one of the pipes broke, so right now I have this room in a bathroom that's completely demolished. They had to come in and demo it and tear the walls down, so I had to shut down two rooms on that side, so I have one room open, plus it's dead, and so I'm like, hmm, what is happening here? You know Well. Number one it gives me more time to do my art. Number two it gives me more time to think about where do I want to go with my art.

Speaker 2:

I think, really, matt, I don't know if you agree with me, but this is a season, I think, for all artists, because it is a little on the slow side here and there, you know, just with things going on, and so it does give you time to think rather than panic and go oh my gosh. You know, I think it's just like, okay, well, maybe God just wants you to step back and look and think about well, what do you really want to do now? Where?

Speaker 1:

do you?

Speaker 2:

want to go.

Speaker 1:

No, I totally agree, cause even this last, you know, we moved to Texas. This is I can't believe this July is when we're recording this and it is now starting our fourth year here in Texas, which seems crazy to me, but it's like these last two and a half years for us. I mean, anytime you move locations like that, it's a big, you know, transition or whatever. And we felt some of that, like things online or not what they were during COVID, and things are changing and you're just trying to get your your footing. But I think, same thing with you and with me.

Speaker 1:

It's like if you can trust the Lord in the middle of the seasons that are what seemed like harvest time, and you can trust him in the seasons that that seemed like winter time, he's, he's your provider, no matter what, right, he's leading guidance you no matter what.

Speaker 1:

And just because you have space in the middle of a season where normally maybe you were just kind of like busy as you could be and couldn't even have time to breathe, you know, neither one of those is more the lord than the other.

Speaker 1:

He's, he's not more faithful to provide for you in one season than he is the other, and I think that, to me, is the challenge for all of us that are maturing in the Lord and maturing as artists and as business people, that when you can get that whole idea that his provision is solid, his love for me is solid. Even though the winds may blow and the you know, jesus said it'll rain on the just and the unjust right, he is the constant in the middle and I'm just like you. You said you had a little more time for your art, like in the last two and a half years. I started this whole new body of work which is selling like hotcakes, and I'm in some new galleries and I'm doing some things I never thought I'd be doing creatively and would have never. I would have never had space for it had I just continued to push on and try to make something happen, even when things weren't in that flow that we've talked about. So I totally resonate with what you're saying there.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, yeah. So it's a little open right now. I'm still going through a little bit of thinking about it, praying about it, because I do a lot of different things. My hands are all over. I did this hand-painted handbag, so I started that and I just I don't know. I like having a lot of projects going. Yeah, sure, but the thing is, which projects really should I be doing? So I think that's my big prayer now is lord. Okay, I've got like five or six things going. Which ones should I really focus on, or should I maybe try something different? So I'm, I'm, I'm a little bit in that season of and what I had said before, you know, teaching art to some students. I, that has really been on my mind and I've been praying about that one.

Speaker 2:

That would just be so joyful to me. I would love to do that, but, um, yeah, so I just I just keep doing um, just seeking out different avenues and different stores, different um, because I don't necessarily um, my work isn't really necessarily, um, necessarily my work isn't really necessarily good for, like, big galleries. Mine is. It's just fun stuff, you know. So there's some great great boutiques and stores that have local artists in them, and so that's kind of what I'm focusing on is is is doing that and supporting local, local places, local artists.

Speaker 1:

Well, I'm just convinced, and I know you are too. We've just listened to your life story and all this. It's like God is going to bless us if we'll keep our hearts close to him and we'll keep our ear to what he's saying, and I think our job is to, not to. We always want to figure out how God's going to bless us. Right? I want to do the thing that God's going to bless, and God's like. My promise is to bless you.

Speaker 1:

You just need to go, do what I've created you to do, right, I'll be the one that chooses where the fruit's going to come, where the opportunity is going to come. You just got to show up faithful in the studio and be who God's called you to be every day, and I I don't know, I think, the more you can, all of us can say, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, man, yeah, I get that. Yeah, you say you get it until the well runs dry, until the bathroom breaks, until the economy slows down and all of that, and then it's like you said, you really- and get into college, get a job.

Speaker 2:

I mean. So it's funny, because I'm so used to those things happening, like some people would just completely lose their minds, and I'm kind of like, oh okay, well, let's see what next. I mean mean not like I wasn't upset, I was. But um, again, you know, I think, I really think god does. He has these things happen in your life. You know it's like the refining fire.

Speaker 1:

You know he's refining us all the time you know, and I'm like I guess I needed another layer to be refined, right lord no, absolutely, absolutely, yeah, well, and it birthed this flexible trust in us that it's. You know who was it? I mean, I don't know who said this like expectancy is uh, or expectation is like it's gotta happen this way, right. If it doesn't happen that way, I'm gonna be disappointed. But like expectancy is this idea that I don't know what's gonna happen, but I know something good is gonna happen and I know God's in control of it and if I can just keep my heart and mind in that place, everything's going to be good.

Speaker 1:

Debbie, I just wonder, as people are listening today and they're thinking I'm in one of those seasons that doesn't make sense. I'm in one of those seasons maybe they've gone through a divorce, maybe their kids have just moved away, or maybe they've lost a child, or maybe just their art is just kind of seeming in a funky place right now. They just can't see anything that looks like God in the middle of it. During one of those sort of in-between seasons that you've walked through so many of. What would you say to encourage them today?

Speaker 2:

I say well, leaning into the Lord, and what I mean by that is dig deep into scripture. I always feel like in the morning, you know, when I do my scripture reading, sometimes I don't have a plan, I just kind of open it up and go start reading. But you know, god is. He's very well aware of what we're going through and he will lead us to the perfect verses that we need at that time. He does for me and it's like wow, I mean because we're thinking one thing and we look at the scripture and we're like, oh, wow, I wasn't even thinking that, but that totally makes sense, you know. And that's what? Wow, I wasn't even thinking that, but that totally makes sense, you know. And that's what I do.

Speaker 2:

I guess there's going to be hard times. There's going to be, you know, calling your friends and going, ah, you know, and all that stuff, which is fine. But in the long run it just comes down to trusting and having faith and being patient. You know it does take patience, especially, you know, the does take patience I especially, you know, the young people nowadays I feel so bad. They want everything right now you know, like with their phones.

Speaker 2:

it's like I want this Amazon. Here we go, boom.

Speaker 1:

That's right here tomorrow Right.

Speaker 2:

I go.

Speaker 2:

Life isn't like that sometimes, you know if you've got to just but just think of it. This is a growing thing. This is this is a time when God wants you to learn something about yourself, and when you open up to that, what's happening right now? Why is this happening? What do you want me to learn about me? What's happening in me? Maybe there's a lesson, Maybe there's something I've been holding back. Maybe there's this thing that's just inside me that needs to go away. So, I think, ask those questions to God and he'll reveal them. And those are those. I think that's why he gives us those times. I must have had a lot of problems, Ted, a lot of those times.

Speaker 1:

Hey, he's as the old song says, he's still working on me, right? I mean, he's still working on me. We've all got stuff, because I think God, God has so much, so many good things for us, but he knows so many good things unless our heart is healed. Right that we were not able to walk in the things that he's got for us, and so he does. He walks us through these, these seasons of pause and just to take a deep breath and let him refine our hearts and prepare us for the next thing.

Speaker 2:

So and find a nice place that you, that you can love, like go out in the desert and take a deep breath and just and just just be with God.

Speaker 1:

That's right, that's right. Well, debbie, this has been so great to just connect again and get to share your story with all our listeners and viewers. I know that folks are going to want to connect with you, so where is the best place online that they can see your work and maybe follow you on social media or what?

Speaker 2:

I have a website it's DebbieGallaraniArtcom. Debbiegallaraniartcom and Gallarani's G-A-L-L-E-R-A-N-I like a gallery. And then my Instagram is DebbieArtWorld. I don't know why it's DebbieArtWorld, but my kids did that for me.

Speaker 1:

That's what it is.

Speaker 2:

It is what it is DebbieArtWorld on Instagram, and then I have a Facebook page. It's the Artistic World of Debbie Gallerani, and I think those are the main ones. Yeah.

Speaker 1:

Nice, nice, well, good, well, listen again. What a joy. Thank you for sharing your story, thanks for being on, and I know that tons of people have been so inspired by all that God's done in your life, so thanks for being on today.

Speaker 2:

Oh, thank you so much, Matt it was fun.

Speaker 1:

Hey, my friend, before you go, make sure that you're signed up for the Thriving Christian Artist Weekly. It's my free newsletter, full of spiritual encouragement, creative inspiration and practical tips to help you thrive in everything that God's called you to do as an artist in his kingdom. Every issue is absolutely free and it includes the latest podcast episode, featured artist spotlights, a worship song of the week and again, tons of tips and encouragement and inspiration for you To keep you inspired and encouraged, and everything that God's got for you as an artist in the kingdom. You can click the link right here in the show notes to join us, and it's a great way to stay connected. Alright, love you Bye.